5 Largest Crocodiles in the World

Crocodiles rank among the largest reptiles in the world, growing to impressive lengths and reaching astounding weights. These formidable reptiles already have reputations as being aggressive–and in some cases, they can even be man-eaters. If the average crocodile is enough to make you walk the other way, imagine how much more intimidating record-breaking crocodile specimens can get!

While there are plenty of species of crocodiles that grow to surprising sizes as a whole, today we’ll be listing individual crocodiles that stand out even among their own species for being jaw-droppingly large. Let’s learn about 5 of the largest individual crocodiles discovered thus far, and take a look at what sets them apart.

5. Gustave

Source: wikipedia.org

The Nile Crocodile is considered to be an apex predator, and for good reason. This terrifying crocodile, Gustave, is recorded as Africa’s largest crocodile, as well as a feared man-eater. Gustave is rumored to have disposed of more than 300 people who ventured too close to the shores of the Ruzizi River and Lake Tanganyika. Locals report that Gustave kills for pleasure as well as sustenance, picking off several people in an area and then disappearing for a while before repeating the cycle.

Did You Know?

Gustave was originally thought to have been around 100 years in age, but was discovered to sport a full set of teeth, indicating that he’s significantly younger.

4. Gomek

Source: wikimedia.org

After originally being captured in Papua New Guinea and changing homes once or twice, Gomek eventually wound up at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park in Florida. He quickly became popular among tourists for his calm disposition towards humans and his willingness to perform tricks such as food-tossing. Feeders still used tongs to feed Gomek for obvious reasons, but could reportedly get just a few feet away from him while remaining unharmed.

Did You Know?

After a long run and eight years of being cared for in captivity at St. Augustine, the elderly Gomek died of heart disease in 1997.

3. Cassius

Source: abc.net.au

Impressive in both size and age, Cassius the croc is estimated to be 110 years old or more, and is considered to be the largest crocodile still alive in captivity. He lives in the Marineland Melanesia Zoo on Green Island with over 50 other crocodiles.

Saltwater Crocodiles often have a reputation for being quite aggressive and Cassius must be handled with caution and respect like any other croc. However, he’s reported to have developed a calm attitude towards caregivers that he’s known for years.

Did You Know?

Cassius used to live near Darwin, where he was eventually captured because he’d been attacking too many boats.

2. Brutus

Source: flickr.com

Known to frequent the Adelaide River, Brutus the crocodile stands out for more reasons than his sheer size alone; he’s also missing one of his front legs. Most people believe that Brutus lost his leg in a tangle with a Bull Shark in estuarine waters. Brutus has reached a considerably old age for a “Saltie,” as Australians fondly nickname his species, and is estimated to be over 80 years old.

Did You Know?

Particularly bold visitors who take the renowned “Jumping Croc Cruise” down the Adelaide River just might get the chance to see Brutus for themselves as tour guides dangle bait to encourage the river’s crocodiles to jump out of the water.

1. Lolong

Source: wikimedia.org

Lolong the Saltwater Crocodile was the largest crocodile in the world. This massive reptile was suspected to be the culprit of several attacks and human deaths before he was captured alive. While his size was often misinterpreted or exaggerated to 30 feet when he was seen in the wild, the records were set straight when he was measured to be 20 feet at a truck weigh-bridge.

Did You Know?

It took a two-year collaborative effort to finally capture Lolong. During his life in captivity, he was kept in a custom-built enclosure due to his massive size.